where did the name Jack the Ripper come from?
On 27 September, 1888, the Central News Agency received a letter written in red ink addressed to “Dear boss”. The writer boasted of their exploits in the murders. It was signed “Jack the Ripper” with a postscript of “Don’t mind me giving the trade name”. This was followed up by a postcard on 1 October, again sent to the Central News Agency making reference to the earlier letter. Again signed “Jack the Ripper”. At first it was thought they were practical jokes, but reference in one letter to cutting off ears and the posting of the letters within a short time of the latest murder suggested to the police the letters could have been written by the murderer. Their contents were revealed to the newspapers in the hope that the public would respond with information. This resulted in wide publicity of the contents of letters and the name Jack the Ripper became immediately infamous. Within days the phrase Jack the Ripper was in use in popular speech, even used by children in their games, and the
